中國和NBA籃球明星中鋒姚明，8日在2008年奧運開幕會掌旗，帶領中國國旗進場，並且接受聯合國環境規劃署（UN Environment Programme, UNEP）的邀請，成為首位的「環境鬥士」。
姚明說：「我很高興，也感到非常榮幸能夠受聯合國環境規劃署之邀成為他們第一位的『環境鬥士』。」
他說：「我在『環境鬥士』中所扮演的角色，就是與政府機構、私人部門以及公共大眾協同合作，運用更好、更有效率的方法來管理我們的環境；如此一來，我們將可以為我們的後代子孫保護這個地球。」
姚明在2002年加入休士頓火箭隊（Houston Rockets），5年來都是NBA全明星賽的中心球員；他從18歲開始就入選為中國國家代表隊。
姚明是NBA身高最高的球員，身長229公分，他是中國的代表人物，並在8月6日將奧運聖火迎進天安門廣場，同時他也是在開幕式舉中國國旗進場的選手。
聯合國環境規劃署執行長史坦納（Achim Steiner）在北京參加奧運會時表示：「歡迎姚明加入我們的團隊，姚明是賽事中最優秀的運動員之一，而且在世界各地擁有上百萬的球迷，我確信他將能夠幫助我們提高公眾對於環境和氣候變遷等議題的環境意識。」
姚明也表示，他將會多多和世界上年輕人進行交流，鼓勵他們多種植樹木、使用節能燈泡、回收利用雨水，並成為他們自己社區的環境鬥士。
姚明對年輕人的影響力是非常顯著的，8日晚間在奧運會開幕式中，當他帶領中國運動員在國家體育場繞場時，身邊跟著一位9歲大的男孩林浩，這個小男孩來自中國震災最嚴重的四川省，並在大地震中從學校的瓦礫堆中救出自己的同學。
在四川大地震發生後，姚明捐出了200萬美金支持賑災工作，並且成立了一個基金會，以協助在地震中被震垮的學校進行重建。
姚明說：「身為一個運動員，我相信運動在促進環境議題上能發揮更大的影響力。」
Chinese and NBA basketball star Yao Ming, who carried the Chinese flag in Friday's opening ceremony for the 2008 Olympic Games, has accepted an invitation from the UN Environment Programme to become its first Environmental Champion.
"I am delighted and greatly honored to accept the UN Environment Programme's offer to become their first ever Environmental Champion," said Yao.
"In my role as Environmental Champion, I will work with governments, the private sector and the public to promote good and effective management of our environment so we can preserve the planet for future generations," he said.
The five-time NBA All Star plays center for the Houston Rockets, having joined the team in 2002, and he has played on the Chinese National Team since the age of 18.
Standing 7'6" (2.29m) tall, Yao is the tallest player in the NBA. He is a national icon in China and carried the Olympic Flame into Tiananmen Square on August 6, as well as being his country's flag-bearer at the opening ceremony.
"I welcome Yao Ming to our team," said UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner, who is in Beijing for the Olympic Games. "As one of the most high profile athletes in these Games and with a fan base of millions across the world, I am sure he can help us raise public awareness on the environment and climate change issues."
Yao said he will work with young people around the world and try to inspire them to plant trees, use energy efficient light bulbs, harvest rainwater and to become environmental champions in their own communities.
The affection the Yao has for young people was evident at the opening ceremony last night as he led the Chinese athletes around the National Stadium together with nine-year-old Lin Hao, a pupil from the area of China's Sichuan province hit by an earthquake who helped to rescue his classmates from the rubble of their school.
After the Sichuan earthquake, Yao donated $2 million dollars to relief work, and created a foundation to help rebuild schools destroyed in the quake.
"As a sportsman," Yao said, "I believe sport has a major role to play in promoting environmental issues."
全文及圖片詳見：ENS
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In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
